Washington’s top ZIP codes for hipsters

Defining a hipster is subjective, but finding neighborhoods where hipsters are likely to live is a little more objective. Based on one set of criteria, the Washington area has plenty of hipster-friendly ‘hoods.

Real estate firm RealtyTrac is out with a list of Top 25 hipster ZIPs, and four are in the Washington area — one in Alexandria, one in Silver Spring and two in Arlington.

RealtyTrac considers these neighborhoods good for investors, where rents are high, vacancies are low and amenities are attractive to potential renters.

Its list is based on ZIP codes with a high percentage of adults under 35, percent of residents who walk or take public transportation to work, percent of renters, vacancy rates and average monthly rent.

Alexandria’s 22305 — the Del Ray neighborhood — ranks No. 5 on the list, with 23.5 percent of the ZIP code’s residents between 25 and 34, and 20.7 percent who walk or take public transportation. The vacancy rate in 22305 is 4.4 percent, the average rent is $1,980 a month, and 57.7 percent of its residents are renters.

Arlington’s 22203 — in Ballston — ranks No. 7, with 33.5 percent of its residents under 35, 41.5 percent who walk or take public transportation and 65.2 percent renting. The vacancy rate is just 2.9 percent and the average monthly rent is $2,440 a month.

Downtown Silver Spring’s 20910 comes in at No. 16, with 22.9 percent of its adult residents under 35, 37.7 percent walking or taking public transportation and 62.2 percent renting. The vacancy rate is 3.4 percent and the average monthly rent is $2,010.

Finally, Arlington’s 22201, also in Ballston, is No. 23. In that ZIP code, 42.7 percent of the residents are 25 to 34 years old, 41.8 percent walk or take public transportation, 63 percent rent, the vacancy rate is 4.5 percent and the average monthly rent is $2,370.

Based on RealtyTrac’s criteria, the three ZIP codes most likely to be hipster hotbeds are in St. Paul, Minn., Pittsburgh and Norfolk, Va.